Page 16 of Needing More
"We could hear you on the other side of the building," Joel said.
Loosening his arm, Vic watched as Finn snatched herself away from him and turned to glare back at him with murder in her eyes. Her once pristine hair was now a tousled mess.
"I’ll get you back for this," she promised, fire gleaming in her eyes.
Crossing his arms over his chest, Vic cocked his head to the side and gave her an inviting smile. "I look forward to it."
Having walked over to the pool where Sapphire was, Hayden leaned over and kissed her before turning back to look at the rest of them. His eyes caught Vic's. "Since you're here I guess now will be as good a time as any to bring out the surprise, right? It may even prevent you from being murdered somewhere in the future."
Knowing what he was referring to, Vic nodded. The other night, a little while after they left, both Hayden and Joel had texted him in their group chat about the idea. With one text to Judge down at the Pick and Pull junkyard, the arrangements were quickly made.
Joel turned to Finn as Hayden walked over to the shed in the corner of the yard. "Booker told us that day at the gas station how you pulled Sapphire down to the ground and covered her from fire. He told us you saved her life."
Smoothing back her hair nervously, Finn shifted on her feet. "I'm not sure about all that. I mean…I was-"
Water sloshed in the pool as Sapphire stepped closer to the pool wall. "You did. I was like a deer in headlights. If it weren't for you I would have-"
"Anyways," Hayden cut her off gruffly as he turned the key violently in the padlock. Just talking about that day and what could have happened was too much for the man. Vic didn’t blame him, it was too much even for him. "We got you a little something in thanks. We all did, even Vic."
Opening the door, Hayden stepped into the dark shed and walked out rolling the old Indian Challenger at his side.
All eyes went to Finn.
For a moment, she didn’t move. She just stared at the bike. They could see her fight to hold her emotions together even as her eyes got suspiciously brighter.
"We will get it fixed for you, of course," Joel went on pretending he didn't see Finn wiping her face.
"And as per your uncle who spent thirty minutes griping at me on the phone when I called to inform him of our plan," Vic added. "You will need to practice riding before you fully start using it. He also mentioned that it's up to you to tell your crazy dad."
Wiping her face once more, Finn gave them a mute nod, not meeting anyone's eyes.
Walking over to the old bike, Finn finally smiled. "This…this is the coolest thing ever. Thanks," she whispered still not looking up.
For the rest of the afternoon, they all chilled in the backyard. They ordered barbecue from down the street while they looked over the bike and noted what needed changing. Eventually, Finn left reluctantly leaving her bike in the shed and promising to come visit it tomorrow.
"She acts like it's a child," Joel laughed as he came back through from locking the now closed café.
"To her, it probably now is," Hayden yawned leaning back in his lawn chair.
Vic checked his watch and thought of his dad with a groan. He needed to get back there and serve him lunch and clean up anything that no doubt needed cleaning.
Looking up, he caught Sapphire's gaze. She was still lounging in the pool.
As if waiting for him to look at her, Sapphire spoke. "Why not stay for dinner tonight?"
Both Joel and Hayden paused in putting away the folding table they had been using.
Joel nodded. "Yeah man, stay. We can lounge upstairs and-"
He wanted to. Fuck, he wanted to so badly. "I can't," Vic said softly, looking down at the ground.
Even Hayden who had stiffened at the offered invitation gave him a concerned look. Turning to Sapphire's disappointed gaze, Vic gave her a tired shrug. "My dad. I can't leave him alone for too long and he needs to eat too."
Sapphire nodded and looked down. Somehow the disappointment on her face made the situation hurt worse. Scrubbing a hand over his face, he stood up. He needed to go before he just said fuck it and let the bastard starve in that room.
The water in the pool sloshed again and he looked to see Sapphire grabbing the ladder handle. Instinctively and without thought, Vic stepped forward. He held his breath as she pulled herself up and out of the water finally revealing her swimsuit beneath—or the lack thereof. The two pieces of dark green fabric may as well not have even been there, he thought as he reached for her hand and her slick waist as she unsteadily climbed out of the pool. For the briefest moment, all Vic could see was the gentle swing of her round, wet breasts in front of his face as she leaned forward to climb out. Vic kept his face unreadable even as his nerves sparked to life throughout his body. Helping her down onto the soft grass, he didn't wait for Hayden to shove him back, Vic stepped back on his own just as Hayden came out from nowhere with a huge towel and wrapped Sapphire in it like a burrito.
Ignoring the tension between the two of them, Joel continued. "I really wish you'd put that bastard in a home and live your life, but whatever," he said with a shake of his head as he pulled Sapphire's bundled body toward him with a mischievous grin.
